Friends of Horsenden Hill were the proud recipients of a field maple tree, one of the 350 British native trees that formed a huge sculpture outside Buckingham Palace to mark the late Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Created by British designer Thomas Heatherwick, the sculpture reflected the planting of more than a million Jubilee trees as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative to mark 70 years of the late monarch’s reign.
Towering over the palace gates during the four-day bank holiday weekend in June, it acted like a beacon sending an “eternal message” that trees are the “superheroes” of our towns and cities, the designer said.
After the sculpture was dismantled, the trees were gifted to community and public service groups. 19 recipients, nominated by Deputy Lieutenants of London Boroughs for their contribution to the community, were each presented with a tree from The Tree of Trees that stood outside Buckingham Palace during The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Ealing, Richard Kornicki CBE DL, who is Patron of Friends of Horsenden Hill, nominated the Friends of Horsenden Hill for a tree – the only community group in the London Borough of Ealing to receive one.
Friends representatives Deb Worsley, Rina Gioia-Howard and Chair Martin Smith attended an award ceremony at the Chelsea Hospital, where along with other recipients, they accepted the large Field Maple.
“We were surprised at how big the Hospital is and more surprised at the sense of calm around the site.
Martin Smith
Both staff and pensioners were very friendly, the latter always ready for a photo opportunity.”
The Horsenden field maple was planted on 10 December, to coincide with our Christmas event. Martin had dug a suitably sized hole a few weeks previously – which turned out to be a good move, as on the day itself, the ground was frozen solid.
Watched by a small crowd, we were honoured that the Friends have been recognised with a lasting legacy that will take its place in the history and heritage of Horsenden.
Take a look at the map to see the locations of the Queen’s Green Canopy trees across the UK. https://queensgreencanopy.org/map-education-hub/qgc-map/#/?id=12130